Public outcry over Emmet County four-day week proposal

The proposal of a four-day work week for the 2010 budget last month is still drawing public outcry to prevent the issue from again becoming an option for Emmet County employees.

Despite not being listed on the Emmet County Administration's meeting agenda for review or vote, six people addressed the administration to voice their displeasure with the previous plan to close the county building in downtown Petoskey on Fridays.

"To close the building, and remove people from a five-day work week, is bad business," said Tom Behan, of Harbor Springs. "The government should be open five days a week, that's my opinion."

Behan said he sent e-mails to 25 people and received 50 back.

"I didn't get one e-mail back that didn't oppose the closure of county services on Friday," he said. "I know many of the people that work in this county building, many wonderful people, but a job is a job. They get paid for it."

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At the November meeting, the Emmet County Board of Commissioners looked at the four-day work week as a cost-saving measure for the 2010 budget. At that time, a motion to approve the new work week was proposed by commissioner Jack Jones, but failed to collect enough votes to pass. Immediately following that vote, another motion was made by commissioner Tom Shier to adopt a five-day, eight-hour work day, but the motion was also shot down. Commissioner Lester Atchison made a third motion to keep the current schedule, which passed by a 4-3 vote.

At the November meeting there were about four speakers that supported the four-day work week, with another being in opposition.

Following the vote, the commissioners discussed needing more information and review about the work week, specifically addressing the issue with Emmet County Controller Lyn Johnson.

However, Johnson said to his knowledge on Tuesday, the work week had not been discussed further.

The estimated savings listed on the proposal was stated to be $25,000 for utility costs alone. However, Emmet County Assistant Controller Marty Krupa said in November that number was a very rough estimate that was compiled by the electric rates and heat costs alone. An expensive, thorough survey would be required to tabulate the full savings, Krupa said.

But, regardless of savings, businesses and law practices are concerned.

"The disruption that a (four-day week) would cause real estate companies, title companies and the general public — there needs to be more forethought," said Roxanne Beach, the president of the Emmet County Association of Realtors. "We don't understand, at least what we have seen in the newspaper, what the cost savings is."

Beach presented a petition with 181 signatures, collected in eight days, opposing the changed work week.

Jack Deegan, an attorney in Petoskey and the secretary of the Emmet County Bar Association, said the four-day work week would cause 20 percent less time for trials, motion hearings and a compressed work week did not serve to public.

"A compressed work week does not serve the public," Deegan said. "We have to do our job for the public and this building has an obligation to that also. Often on Fridays emergencies happen and motions have to be filed."

With confidence, Deegan said, the Emmet County Bar Association does not support this.